 The Fingering Forum
|
Author: mls
Date: 2003-09-24 21:08
Does anybody have any tips for playing low notes on oboe? Whenever I look on other websites, they say lower your jaw, but it's not helping. Is that true? How are you really supposed to play low notes? Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mikeyboy
Date: 2003-09-24 21:21
My teach told me this last year wheni was palying oboe. When playing like a Low Bb, make a frowny face :(. So forget he lower jaw and make a frowny face.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TorusTubarius
Date: 2003-09-25 01:38
What other websites, just out of curiosity?
Dropping your jaw is most certainly not what you want to rely on in order to get your low notes to speak. Sounds to me like something a saxophone player pretending to know how to play the oboe would say. 
There are four main reasons why you may be having trouble with the low notes, which incidentally are the fundamental four aspects of oboe playing in any regard: embouchure, air, the reed, and the oboe itself.
<u>Embouchure</u>
When you're playing down in the lowest register of the oboe, you first of all have to play closer to the tip of the reed. This will help both response and stability. Another thing to remember is to make sure you are providing plenty of lateral support on the reed with your lips. Try and imagine your lips making more of an "oooo" shape was you move down into the low range of the instrument. It should feel sort of like you're puckering your lips when whistling. This motion will simultaneously help provide enough pressure on the sides of the reed <i>and</i> force you to play closer to the tip.
Also I find that for certain low notes I tend to lean more on the lower lip such as the low F, E, Eb, and low B and Bb. On other low notes, such as the low D, C#, and especially low C, I get the best response when I position the reed so that I'm not really leaning on either lip. That's something you might experiment with yourself to see what works best for you.
<u>Air</u>
Most of the time people are afraid of the low notes on the oboe (rightfully so) and tend to use too little air. Ironically it is in this register that you need the most boisterous air column because you're essentially having to fill up the entire length of the tube with vibrating air, as opposed to only half or less with notes like G, G#, A, etc. I guess it's sort of counterintuitive since most of the time people will try and force too much air into the oboe for mid-range notes, and the back the amount off for the low notes, which is exactly the reverse of what should be happening.
So long story short, don't be afraid to blow.
<u>The reed</u>
If your reed isn't vibrating enough (i.e. there is no bottom octave in the crow), then the low notes are going to be reticent to speak. I don't know if you've even thought about adjusting your reeds yet, but this could be the problem as well.
<u>The oboe</u>
Last, it could be a problem with your oboe. There may be a leak somewhere which is making it more difficult to play the low notes. However, if you're still a beginner, I would try and make corrections in the air and embouchure before I went looking to the oboe itself for the problem. All things being equal, it's usually more a problem with the player than the oboe or the reed.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: musichick
Date: 2003-09-28 22:44
On certain reeds I have problems with the lower notes, and I've scraped some of the wood off and it helped ( I dont make my own reeds though and probably made the reed worse in the process of doing this. It worked for me though...) Other reeds, the low notes come out really easily. I would suggest trying out a different brand of reed next time you buy reeds.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Saxplaya
Date: 2003-09-30 22:50
when i play low notes on my oboe at my school in the lower band, the low notes respond quicker (for me) if just the tip of the reed is in your mouth....my band director said i could also tune by the amount of reed i have in my mouth...is that true?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TorusTubarius
Date: 2003-10-01 20:31
Well Saxplaya, that's true, but I say so with certain reservations. Pulling the reed in and out of your mouth is something that it's very easy to over-do in your efforts to play the oboe in tune.
The primary way that the oboe is played on pitch is with a functional reed, appropriate embouchure, and strong air support. These are the foundation of good intonation and pitch.
That being said, this pitch base must be tempered some by subtle changes in the embouchure and amount of reed in the mouth. You will find you play in tune when you play closer to the tip of the reed on the low notes and more importantly, with more of the reed in your mouth for high notes, beginning especially with the A above the staff.
It is important to remember that the reed is drawn into and out of the mouth <i>with the lips</i>. You should avoid shoving the reed into your mouth by sliding it over the lips, or at least this should be minimized as much as possible. To move the reed with the lips, you have to think about your embouchure forming more of an overall "OOO" shape when you play down low. Then, as you move up the range and especially beginning with the A above the staff, your embouchure should change to more of an "EEE" shape, as if you were actually about to articulate that vowel. An "OOO" shape down low forces you to pucker your lips more and consequently play closer to the tip. Likewise, making an "EEE" shape forces you to draw your lips back and flatten your chin more, which will have the effect of drawing more of the reed into your mouth.
So as you can see, it's really more complicated than simply saying you can "tune by the amount of reed you have in your mouth." Additionally, what I described above affects more than just tuning; it is important for better tone, dynamic flexibility, and response as well.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bandgeek777
Date: 2003-10-17 16:28
i have only been playing oboe for a month, but i used to have a hard time with it too. try opening your throat more, and not dropping your jaw, but keeping it pointed and flat to the ground. you should be able to hold a pencil between your chin and the part where you stick the reed into your oboe. hope i could be of help!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
